The Big Butterfly Count runs until Sunday, August 9 and you can pick up a spotter sheet at the Wildfowl and Wetland Centre in Burscough, West Lancashire so that you can tick off what you see, as it’s a great place to spot butterflies.

Get your kids involved with David Attenborough's Big Butterfly Count at Martin Mere

Kids can also pick up a Nature Explorers passport and earn a stamp for each activity they do, like taking a watery safari, building mini-rafts, pond dipping, hand feeding rare birds, going on big bug hunts to discover all sorts of creepy crawlies and more.

You can also download a butterfly spotter sheet here to spot butterflies where you live. You’re especially invited to look out for Painted Lady butterflies, which appear to be seeing a huge influx from the continent this year.

Make sure you get your own butterfly spotter sheet

WWT vice president Sir David Attenborough launched the Big Butterfly Count at London Wetland Centre, on behalf of WWT’s nine wetland centres across the UK including Martin Mere.

The broadcaster and naturalist said the UK’s butterflies are on a par with great wildlife across the world.

He added: “We tend to think in the British Isles we haven’t got dramatic animals - that’s because blokes like me on the television keep on putting elephants and giraffes on your screen - but there are wonderful things in this country and butterflies are not the least of them.”

“We want to know how many butterflies there are in this country, what kind they are and how they’re doing. Find a nice place and, when the sun shines, just for 15 minutes note down what butterflies you see.”

A peacock butterfly

Centre manager, Nick Brooks, said: “I’m delighted to be able to support this wonderful project. Martin Mere Wetland Centre is a great place to see loads of butterfly species whether you are on a canoe or walking along our nature trail.”

The Big Butterfly Count is run by Butterfly Conservation and supported by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, which are closely linked.

WWT founder Sir Peter Scott was Butterfly Conservation’s first president, and WWT vice President Sir David Attenborough is their current President. Both organisations were set up with the ethos that conservation science should involve people getting outside and having fun.